49th India International Film Festival begins today

The 49th edition of the International Film Festival of India will open on Tuesday with the gala opening ceremony at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa.

The 9-day event will showcase 212 films from 68 countries. While The Aspern Papers is the opening film, Sealed Lips will be the closing movie. Festival Director Chaitanya Prasad said that the opening film will set in motion a memorable cinematic journey for the next 8 days.

Indian Panorama, a sought after section of the IFFI, will showcase 26feature films and 21 non-feature films. Shaji Karun directed Malayalam movieOlu will open the feature film segment of the Indian panorama.

Kharvas directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale will be the Openingnon-feature film of Indian Panorama. World Panorama section will present 67movies including 15 OSCAR nominated films from different countries.

While Israel is the focus country, Jharkhand is the focus state this year. Ten Israeli films including The Other Story will be screened at the IFFI. Veteran Israeli filmmaker Dan Wolman will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award this year. Movies in the Jharkhand Package include Death in the Gunj, Ranchi Diaries and Begum Jaan.